Bookrest



Sept. '28 1926. 1,601,463

T. s. WHITE ET m.

B'OOKREST Filed 1925' 2 Sheets-Shet 1 IIIII'II I any. 14

, a 9 1M I 4 ATTORNEYS T. 8. WHITE ET AL Sept. 28 192 6.

BOOKREST filed Nov. 21

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED OFFICE.-

THURMOND s. WHITE AND WILLIAM B. VINSON, or sn'nnvnronr, LonIsIANA.

' BQOKREST.

Application filedNov'ember 21, 1925. Serial m. 70,679.

This invention relates to improvements in book rests and it consists ofthe constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object or the invention is to provide an appliance for oflice, library and similar uses to'hold a book in any one of a Wide variety or inclined positions, the pages bein re.- tained by adjustable pegs, there also being a superstructure, which when applied to the book rest, converts the appliance into a copy holder. 7

Other objects and advantages appear in the following specification, reference b'eing had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the book rest in its complete condition.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the book rest When employed solely for holding a book. i I I .Figure 3 is a detail sectional VlQW'Of the left end of the superstructure in Figure'l, showing the mounting of one end of the clamp Wires.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the comp ete book rest. I

Figure 5 is a rear elevation.

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6+6 of Fig. 5 illustrating the keeper and chain by which the prop is adjustably held.

Upon reference to Figures 1 and 4, it is observed that the "book rest is built on an easel pattern. It is composed of two prin-- cipal parts, namely the base generally designated '1 and a superstri'icture generally designated 2. While the base 1 is capable of use alone (see Fig. 2) yet the superstructure 2 is not because it requires the base 1 as a support when the appliance is employed as a copy holder.

It is not essential that the superstructure 2 be removed when the appliance 'is einployed as a book rest unless the book should be objectionably high,- but ordinarily when a book is to be supported there; will be no need for the superstructure 2 and it may therefore as Well be removed. These general statements are intended to set out the interdependence and co'action of the base and superstructure, and the whole appliance is herein known as ab'o'oli rest. The horizontal top bar-'3 and-base plate or shelf at are connected by a-pl'urality of bars, a central pairb and-single bars 6 at thelat.

addition of fillers, either ornamental or plain,- is regarded as a common expedient;

A circular recess 7 in th-ecenter of the top bar 3 and iii the front edge thereof (Fig. 2)

is intended to make room for the central binding portion. 8 or a book '13, particularly When. the book happens to be higher than the back of'the book rest. The various bars mentioned constitute the back.

This circular recess is flanked by the central pair of bars 5, this arrangement providing an adequate support for the book at the place Where. it is ,most necessary. Pegs or pins 9 are insertable in-holes 10 in the base plate orshelr" 4 to retain the pages of the book as shovtn in Figure 2. -The holes are provided iri a plurality of series so that a Wide range of adjustment of the pegs can be had. The upper ends of the pegs are rounded at 11, thereby permitting the turning of a page Withoutremoving the pegs.

Chains 12 connect the pegs 9 with the shelf 4, screws 13 or other appropriate means being employed for the purpose. Holes 14' in the frontedge of the shelf; 4 provide sockets in Which the pegs are insertilole when not required to hold back the pages of a book (see Fig. 1).

The prop 15 is adjustable in respect to the base 1 so that the book rest may be made to stand at-any inclined position Within A the limits of adjustment. A-bent 3 (Figf 5) provides a hinge upon which the prop swings; A chain 17 attached to the back of the shelf- 4 extends through an opening 181( Fig. 6) nearthe lower and free Xtremity ofthe' prop 15. A keeper 19 isfitted in the opening,- having a substantiat ly V-sh'aped slot 20 in which the chain is heldbetween links. Upon desiring to make new adjustments, the free end of the chain is pulled up intothe'large part of'the slot and moved to the desired position, whereupon it is again carried down to the bottom of the slot and there held inplace. The par-' tic'ular ball chain shownmay, in practice, be replaced by a chain of any other, type, another kind ofchain; vvorki-ng equally as well.

Bounded e 21 ast rocking ,of-ths WVlIGlG, inserted in the back of the top bar book rest when the foregoing adjustments of the prop are made. These feet are affixed to the underside of the shelf 4.

Slots 22 in the top bar 3 receive the grippers 23 of the superstructure 2. Figure 3 illustrates one of these in detail. The main portion 2-1 of the gripper is fixed in the lower edge of the suaerstructure, the opposite end 25 being free and appropriately bent so as to be of resilient nature. The superstructure is held in place on the base 1 by the grippers 23, and these must press against the slots 22 specially hard to prevent any undue looseness of the superstructure.

A bent wire 26 at the front of the superstructure 2 is pressed toward a felt or other friction strip 27 by means of springs 28 which are appropriately coiled about the pivot ends 29 of the wire. These ends, as well as the main body of the springs, occupy recesses 30 (Fig. 3) in the ends of the superstructure. Similar recesses 31 house the ends 32 of a bent wire 33 at the back of the superstructure, as well as springs 3 1 which press the back wire against the back of the superstructure. The ends of the superstructure are notched at 35 so that the parallel side portions of the two wires may be kept within the confines of the superstructure.

In other words, the ends of the wires 26 and 33 extend no farther than the ends of the superstructure itself. This feature enhances the appearance of the appliance, and to a certain extent prevents the end portions of the wires from getting in the way. The back wire 33 has a bent portion 36 which serves as a finger piece, making it easy to swing the wire 33 back preparatory to inserting a copied page as suggested by the dotted lines a in Figure 4. The superstructure 2 includes a base 37 which rests upon the bar 3.

The operation is readily understood. Both the base 1 and superstructure 2 constitute the book rest as already explained. It is not essential to remove the superstructure 2 when employing the appliance as a book rest, and when the book is of less height than the back of the base 1 (Fig. 2)

it becomes optional with the user whether the superstructure shall be removed. But should the book be higher than the back of the base 1 it becomes necessary to remove the superstructure because then the latter would interfere with the back binding 8 of the book. The circular recess 7 accommodates the back binding and makes it possible to lay the book out flat in the open position.

An important use of the base 1 and superstructure 2 in combination occurs when the book rest is employed in reference work. An example will serve to illustrate. On such occasion the base 1 will support a book in the open position while the clampwire of the superstructure will serve to hold a reference card, page or the like in convenient position before the reader so that his hands may be employed otherwise, as for example in writing, turning pages of other books, etc.

The appliance in the condition in Figure 1 is more particularly adapted for use as a copy holder. In such case the front wire 26 clamps the pages Z) as in Figure at, and as the pages are copied they are thrown back as at a where the back wire 33 holds them in place. The friction strip 27 is supplemented by a plurality of rubber or other pieces 38 on the front clamp wire 26 thereby to better hold the pages. On the same principle the back clamp wire 33 has gripping pieces 39, also to hold the loose pages.

It is obvious that the pegs 9 are inserted into any one of the numerous holes 10 to retain the pages of the book. Figure 2 shows the book rest as accommodating a book which is considerably longer than the rest itself. Upon the same principle the bookrest can accommodate a book which is considerably smaller than the back of the bookrest. In any event the pegs 9 will hold the book in place, and it is deemed an obvious expedient to dispose the holes 10 as closely to the center of the shelf 1 as may be required so that all possible adjustments of the pegs 9 may be provided for. One intended use of the book rest is to support looseleaf books of large dimensions in the open position for the purpose of either copying or reading therefrom.

It may also be stated that in practice it is intended to build the book rest either of wood or metal, or combinations thereof,- and according to dimensions as may be found necessary. WVhile the construction and arrangement of the improved book rest is that of, a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made avithoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

lVe claim 7 LA device of the character described comprising abase, a back including a cross bar, a prop hinged to the cross bar said prop having an opening and a V-slotted keeper, a flexible element attached at one end to the base and passing through the opening being insertible in the V-slot to hold the prop at various adjusted positions, and rounded feet von the underside of the base permitting appropriate rocking motion of the device to agree with said adjustment of the prop.

2. A device of the character described comprising 'a base, a superstructure applicable to the base forming a copy holder, a pair of clamp wires pivoted upon the edges of the superstructure and located at the front and back of the superstructure respectively to hold the maincopy and the pages as turned back in position, and springs incorporated in the pivots of said Wires causing them to press against the front and back surfaces of the superstructure. v

3. A device of the character described comprising the combination of a slotted top bar forming part of a. base, a superstructure which is applicable to the top bar, clamp Wires respectively at the front and rear of the superstructure being bent to provide pivot ends, springs associated With said pivot ends to urge the respective clamp Wires toward the superstructure, recesses in the ends of the superstructure to receive said pivotends and springs thereby keeping the side portions of said Wires Within the confines of the superstructure, and bent resilient grippers carried by the superstructure being insertible in the slots of the top bar, thereby to hold the superstructure in position.

- THURMOND S. WHITE.

WILLIAM B. VINSON. 

